1. Grave stele of Hegeso
By Ryan Badke L6P

2. Basic facts Date: 410 – 400 BCE Material: Pentilic marble
Location: Athens, in the ancient cemetery of Kerameikos.
Purpose: Grave monument
Size : Height, 1.56m
: Width, 0.97m
On exhibit at the National Archeological

3. What the statue shows
An Atheniean lady seated on a chair with footstool looks at a piece of jewellery held in her right hand. (missing) She has her feet on a stool.
Opposite her is a sorrowful standing attendant holding a open jewellery box (Pyxis) for her mistress.

5. Who is Hegeso? The inscription says the deceased is Hegeso
Hegeso was the daughter of Proxenos
Her headdress identifies her from a priestly origin
Wearing a chiton and himiation
Was in a family grave plot
Wife of Koroibos

6. Context behind the carving
In the fifth century BCE, Athenians started to use this style.
Reasons behind this shift were because it was cheaper than statues but more expensive then pottery, so it showed some level of wealth.
Family burial sites (Periboli) were used a lot during the 4th century to emphasize democracy and family ideals or values. These family burial sites would usually back onto a road so people would decorate the back to passers by could see.
This carving would have been viewed from within the tomb on a plinth.

7. What the carving means (Hegeso and servant)
Rather than just celebrating the death of Hegeso it shows virtues of women in the family.
Her clothing simply lay on her body in order to not portray any erotic values.
Her hair is tied in a sakkos, the elaborate hair style shows superiority over the servent
Both her clothing and hair show her beauty and sexuality
Her being seated shows hierarchy over the servant or even that the servant is almost worshiping her and giving her a gift. But the sculptor would not of intended this.

8. What the carving means (objects and furniture)
Her being seated on a slender chair, shows freedom and relaxation because she is a wife to a citizen. The footstall emphasises this also.
The furniture itself shows a domestic scene and honours private virtues of the house (oikos).
The Pyxis (Jewellery box) is often associated with a gift for a bride of a wedding.
The jewellery (missing) shows Hegeso getting dressed up. Perhaps getting ready to greet guests or to go out.

9. What does Woodford say?
“the composition on the grave stele has been monumentalized.”
“The image no longer simply reflects an everyday event, as the vase does, but by imposing upon it a strong formal structure has imparted to it both solemnity and grandeur.
“the composition is dominated by repeated verticals and horizontal framing and the central action suggestion a quiet, serious mood.”

10. Thanks for listening!!! 